Politics

Dhaka, Feb 7 (UNB) – BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday invited Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader to join BNP as its adviser since he has long been giving the party various suggestions.

“Awami League general secretary is regularly giving BNP various advice at different programmes about what the party should do...he's also saying in advance about the decision of our party, and giving us various suggestions,” Rizvi said.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “The way he (Quader) is talking about BNP it seems he wants to join BNP. So, there's no point for him to remain with Awami League now. Rather, I urge him to join BNP, and our party’s door is open for him.”

The BNP leader said ruling party leaders and activists are passing their days with an anxiety thinking of the consequences they will have to face for their ‘misdeeds’. “They are secretly keeping contact with BNP leaders and activists at different areas. Awami League leaders and activists are worried about their future. So, Obaidul Quader and some other leaders are voluntarily trying to be the adviser of BNP.”

Rizvi said though their party is not there in parliament, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is spiting venom against the Zia family in the House.

He said Sheikh Hasina, who became Prime Minister in the voting held at midnight, claimed the December-30 election was free and fair and Awami League won the polls with people’s votes. “She’s now making such remarks snatching people’s freedom of expression.”

The BNP leader said no one, except the Prime Minister and her party leaders and activists, said the election was free and fair. “Even, the partners of the Grand Alliance are saying the voting was held the night before the election. The Prime Minister’s digital hunger for power snatched democracy.”

“The CEC yesterday (Tuesday) said the city corporation by-polls will be fair like the national election. With such a comment, he has just given a hint of making another fraud with the nation over the election,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said Nurul Huda’s remark about the city polls has exposed that he has become a “cruel clown” after arranging a national election of grand vote ‘robbery’.

Rizvi said it is difficult to imagine how a CEC who held different important posts, including that of secretary, of the government can be so much shameless. “It’s very unfortunate that he is indulging in impudicity after selling his soul.”

He said the entire nation has got stunned over the activities of the CEC who is working to destroy the country’s election system.

The BNP leader said the 11th parliamentary election was accepted nowhere -- neither at home nor abroad -- due to massive vote ‘robbery’. “The law enforcers stuffed ballots the night before the voting day while voters were barred from going to the polling stations.”

Referring to Awami League-led Grand Alliance’s component JSD’s statement over vote robbery and stuffing ballots on December 29, Rizvi said how ruling party general secretary Obaidul Quader will now defend the election when their alliance partner is bringing the allegation of vote ‘robbery’.

Rizvi alleged that the government is playing the 'game of hide and seek' over the bail of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in different cases filed against her. “When she obtained bail in one case, her bail in another case was annulled. When she got bail from the High Court, the Appellate Division stayed it. When the Appellate Division granted her bail in any case, the lower court canceled bail in another case. These things happened over the last one year regarding Khaleda Zia’s cases.”

He said Khaleda is not getting bail in many cases though all other accused in those cases were granted bail. “The government is doing such things by establishing its control over the administration and the law enforcers through politicisation.”

Khaleda has been in jail since February 8 last year as she was convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She has been facing a total of 36 cases.

Mentioning that Khaleda is seriously ill in the jail, Rizvi urged the government to free her stopping repression on her.

He also demanded that the other arrested party leaders and activists across the country be released from jail.

Dhaka, Feb 5 (UNB) – Jatiya Party cochairman GM Quader on Tuesday said their party will not indulge in destructive politics, though they may take to the streets to fulfill people’s desires.

“We won’t do destructive politics as the opposition party. But, we’ll fulfill the people’s desire through a positive role in parliament and a systematic movement on the streets,” he said.

GM Quader, also the deputy leader of the opposition in parliament, came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at party chairman’s Banani office after taking interviews of its aspirants for reserved women seats in the 11th parliament.

He said their party chairman HM Ershad, who returned home from Singapore on Monday night after treatment, will join the parliament’s maiden session very soon.

The parliament 50 seats reserved for women are distributed among parties based on the number of their representation in Parliament.

As Jatiya Party secured 22 seats in the December-30 election, it can nominate four candidates to be elected to reserved women seats.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga said their party will start selling its nomination forms among the aspirants for the first-phase upazila parishad elections from 10am to 4pm on February 7.

He said their party will finalise their candidates based on their acceptability, popularity and contributions to the party. “Our many candidates will come out successful in the polls.”

Dhaka, Feb 4 (UNB) – Jatiya Party MP Md Rustam Ali Farazi on Monday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have to take a very tough stance against corruption and win the fight against the menace this time.

“You’ll see the touch of corruption wherever you keep your hands. The Prime Minister has made a specific announcement to stamp out it. We agree with this announcement. Although it’s tough to implement it, we need to succeed in this tough task. The Prime Minister has to be very tough this time,” he said.

The JaPa MP from Pirojpur-3 constituency was delivering his speech on the thanksgiving motion on President’s speech.

He said those days are now gone that the Prime Minister will bear the burden of ministers’ corruption and he does not believe that those days will return on the soil of Bangladesh.

Farazi who contested the national election for eight times since 1986 said he practises honest politics and remains open to any probe against him.

Describing Bangladesh’s massive development in various sectors under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said there are challenges ahead, too for the current government.

He mentioned smooth implementation of sustainable development goals, fight against militancy, terrorism and drugs, and curbing corruption as key challenges that need to be addressed working together.

The JaPa MP said people voted in favour of development and peace as they do not want any deviation from the peaceful environment.